Improvement in propelling-apparatus for vessels



dutmt 5mm' tlatwt (titille AMOS D. OWEN, OF THORNTOWN, INDIANA, AND JOHN D. SHERMAN,

PAW PAW, MIoHiGAN.

Lette/rs Patent N 96,831, dated November 16, 1869.

IMPROVEMENT IN PRPELLING--APPARATUS FOR vVIEISSEIIIS.

The' Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and lmaking part of the same.

To whom it muy concern:

13e it known that we, AMos D. Owns, of lhorntown, Boone county, Indiana, and JOHN D. SHER- MAN, of Paw Paw, in the county of Van Buren, and,

State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Propelling-Apparatus for Steam- Vessels; and we do declare that the following is a true and accurato description thereof, reference heilig had 'to' the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, and being a part of lthis specincation, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of our propelling-apparat-us, att-ached to a steamers hull, which is shownin section;

Figure 2 is a plan of one ofthe propelling-fins;

Figure 3 is an elevation of one of the connectingrods;

Figure 4 is a plan ofthe same; -and Figure 5 is an elevation of the slotted hanger.

Like letters refer to like parts in each figure.

The nature of this invention relates to a new method of propulsion for steam vessels; and

It consists in the employment of aseries of metallic double iins at the ends of connecting-rods, to which a reciproeating.;` motion is communicated from a suitable engine, Athe tins being so arranged thatthey will automatically open, to present a large area to the resistance of the water when making a propelling' stroke, and on there turn stroke will be closed together, and present a small section to lthe water. The motion of the. iins very nearly resembles that of a dncks foot in swimming, whereby the entire power of the engine is utilized for the propulsion of the vessel, as no dead water is carried Yup bythe tins, asis the case with paddlewheels.

Also, in the general arrangement of its parts, as hereinafter more fully shown and'set forth ln the drawings- A represents a section ofa steamcrs hull, with the planking removed, and

'A', the overhanging guards.

B is a longitudinal beam, secured to the hull, as shown in iig. l.

Pivotcd at a, to this beam, is a vertical vibrating beam, O, to which motion is con'iimmicated from the rotating crank I), on the end ofthe overhanging engine-shaft by theconnecting-rod F.

To the upper and lower ends ofthe beam O are pivoted the connecting-nuls F, which operate the forward-propelling iins.

T o the lower end thereof is also pivoted the conmeeting-rod F of the lmckward-propelling tin.

The connecting-rods reciprocate in the guides G G', which -are journalled in the lower ends of the hangers H H'.

The rods terminate in a cross-head, I, in the ends of which are .pivotcd the. inner ends of the metallic fins or blades J. y

A vert-ical cut-water, l), is also secured in the centre ofthe cross-head, against, and on a line with the rear of which the tins J fold up when not propelling.

On each rod F, outside of its 'guide G, is secured a stop, c.

Sleeved on the rod, beyond this stop, is an arm, K.

Pivoted to each end of said arm is a link, L, whose outer end in pivoted tothe fin J, about its centre.

Between each pai of links L is pivoted a togglelever, M, to whose knuckle the rod N is attached, whose other end is pivoted to the upper end-of a lever, O, which vibrates on a pivot., c, which has a vertical movement'iu the slotf of the hanger P.

The lower ends of these cam-levers P are'rounded ofi' on the forward side for the backing-fin, and on the rea-r side for the forward-propel]ing fins, in order that they may bc lifted by the tappets `(/on the rods F,

the pivot g moving np the slot f for the purpose,-

when the rods F are movingl back after ha'ving coinpleted a propelling stroke, without aiiecting the then closed fins g' but in making propellingr stroke, the tappets g strike the straight end of the lever O, which, in

movement, so as to keep up a steady action on the water.

One set of fms is used for backing the vessel, which are inactive when the vessel is going ahead, and cioe ccrsa.

Either set of tins may be thrown out of' operation by raising the pivot c, in the slot j', by any suitable mechanical means over which the engineer has control, to carry up the cam-lever O above the tappct.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In combination with the pins J and'rods F, the links L, arms K, toggle-levers M, rods N, cam-levers O, and pivots c, sliding in the slptsf of the hangers P, in connection with the tappctsg, the guides G, vibrating beam O, and connecting-rod'E,the whole constructed, arranged, and operating substantially as and for the phrpose herein shown and set forth.

AMO'S l). OWEN. JOHN D; SHERMAN.

\Vitnesses:

H. F. Ennrs, J As. I. DM'. 

